AIA Phoenix Metro was pleased to partner with the City of Phoenix in 2024 to host and produce a competition for schematic design of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). The open competition attracted entrants from multiple states, and was supported by a national AIA College of Fellows Component Grant.
For the competition, ADUs were designed to be no larger than 1,000 square feet, either attached or detached from a primary residence. At minimum, an ADU was required to include kitchen, bathroom, sleeping area, and its own means of egress.
Winners, selected in a jury process, were announced in a ceremony—with remarks by Mayor Kate Gallego—at Phoenix City Hall on December 3, 2024. The City of Phoenix will consider further development of select designs for an ADU Standard Plans Library. Below, see all entries selected by the jury for recognition, in the order of Winners, Runners Up, and Honorable Mentions.
Competition Winners
Winner: Best Overall
SIP.casita.PHX
Kevin Kolden and Anna Castillo
Richärd Kennedy Architects
The SIP-Casita Module offers an innovative solution to Phoenix’s housing challenges by addressing both affordability and income generation for homeowners, while providing long-lasting value. This modular, prefabricated accessory dwelling unit (ADU) design is highly flexible and energy-efficient, making it ideal for urban environments where space and resources are limited.
The members of the jury felt that this project addressed the brief the best. It was visibly appealing. It was an original idea. It considered construction costs. It prioritized sustainability and energy efficiency. And finally, was accessible and inclusive.
Winner: Big Idea
The Block
180 Degrees Design + Build
Team Members:
Guillaume Evain, Assoc. AIA
Kyle Fiano, AIA
Xander Gomez
Brooke Sands
Asra Zaidi
The Block is a visionary concept designed to provide efficient and adaptable solutions for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) that fit seamlessly into the unique urban fabric of Phoenix. By recognizing the diverse needs of homeowners, The Block offers flexibility in floor plans and incorporates the modern aesthetics of desert architecture. Contrary to the notion that customization inevitably increases costs, The Block leverages standardized construction details and innovative modular layouts to create flexible, affordable ADU designs.
The jurors appreciated the concept of utilizing the alleyways in Phoenix. This ADU design demonstrated innovation, creativity, and a unique design solution. They felt that the design pushed the boundaries of traditional ADU design, incorporating creative use of space, and original ideas.
Winner: Tiny Home
Micro Compact Loft
Valerie Lane
Urban Infill Project
The Micro’s compact footprint, with its efficient and adaptable design, makes it an ideal solution for a wide range of sites. The Micro prioritizes straightforward construction and material accessibility. The Micro is designed for affordability. This focus on material accessibility and efficiency streamlines the building process and reduces material waste. The Micro Loft incorporates sustainable design principles to minimize its environmental impact and promote efficient resource use.
The jury felt this ADU was a great real-life example of compact housing, as it was already built. The jury spoke about how they could see a college student renting out this ADU as an affordable means of housing. This ADU design has innovative and cost-effective solutions that minimize expenses and promote affordability.
Winner: Aging in Place
OTRA CASA [another house]
Hector Rodriguez, AIA
Tecnico
Team Members:
Chazandra Kern
Majid Naderi
Priyanka Pawar, AIA
In response to Phoenix’s need for affordable and adaptable housing, this versatile and attractive ADU maximizes density and constructability while maintaining a strong relationship between the indoor and outdoor spaces. The adaptable design fosters both communal connections and privacy, while enhancing energy efficiency through a thoughtful design. The ADU incorporates universal design principles throughout to ensure accessibility for all, including elderly residents or those with mobility challenges.
The jurors was impressed by how well considered this entry was. They felt that this ADU would be adaptable not only on the exterior but also the interior. They felt that the interior flexibility of this entry would provide for a more accessible home that could create a living space to accommodate the changing needs of elderly loved ones.
Runner Up: Adaptability
Phoenix Living – ADU
Mark Diana, AIA
Felton Group
Team Members:
Andrew Wheeler – Felten Group
Priya Bassignan – Felten Group
Taylor Rose – Felten Group
Our proposal is rooted in reality and feasibility – provide an affordable vision and design that any Phoenix resident can select and tailer to their specific condition and needs. The construction is of common and affordable building materials suited for the harsh desert environment. The design focuses on contributing environmental health through limiting material use and embodied carbon, selecting healthy bio-based materials wherever possible.
This ADU was extremely well received by the members of the jury. They recognized that this project considered aesthetics, as well as architectural style and scale, and would have a positive impact on the communities it was in. The jury also felt that this particular ADU had the ability to be customizable to match specific needs and preferences.
Runner Up: Big Idea
Incremental ADU
Andrew Marriott
Architekton
The Incremental ADU is a prototype dwelling aimed at addressing the housing crisis in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. The design is crafted to be able to easily expand and adapt to different sites, orientations, and changing lifestyles. This provides affordable and equitable housing, and helps to increase density in suburban and urban neighborhoods.
The jurors thoroughly enjoyed how this entry showed what the ADU might look like in real world conditions, and they appreciated that attention to detail shown on the different variations of this ADU’s floor plan layouts.
Honorable Mention: Adaptability (and Outdoor Patio)
ODID
Whitney Warman, AIA
Warglaze Properties, LLC
Team Members:
David Glaeseman
The ODID (outdoor / indoor) embraces the optimal outdoor environment by blurring the line between outdoor and indoor spaces. Unlike most homes in Arizona, connectivity and integration of the outdoors is essential to the wellness of the mind and body and should be considered essential spaces just as the kitchen is for eating. By providing adequate shade and air movement, even the summer evenings can be enjoyed outdoors. This detached accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is designed to provide thermal, environmental, and social comfort in numerous orientations.
An ADU that addressed all the design competition criteria, the jury was impressed how this team truly took the time to explore the ADU’s site adaptability for different site constrains. Jurors also appreciated how the shaded outdoor patio would extend the living space for indoor-outdoor living.
Honorable Mention: Exterior Design
Sun Block ADU
Craig Rosman, AIA
Studio Ma
Durable, easy to install, and ubiquitous, there is no building material more associated with Phoenix than concrete block. The Sun Block ADU proposes a flexible construction system for optimized passive solar design. The Sun Block ADU provides opportunities for greater multi-generational living within existing neighborhoods.
The jury enjoyed the intricate exterior design of this entry. Eager to see it built in real life, the jury considered the block wall structure as an elegant and sustainable solution that would fit into most Phoenix neighborhood aesthetics.
AIA Phoenix Metro and the City of Phoenix celebrated winners of the 2024 ADU Design Competition at Phoenix City Hall on December 3, 2024. Mayor Kate Gallego shared her support for the importance of architects to help revitalize neighborhoods and create affordable housing for Phoenix residents. Miguel Victor with the City of Phoenix spoke about the next steps for determining selections to be included in the City of Phoenix Standard Plans Library.
